Bruce Nolan - Reviews

“A virtuoso clarinetist…”
Der Bund - Bern, Switzerland

“…plays with flair and virtuosity”
Daniel Cariaga - The Los Angeles Times

“…there is a pure and unaffected quality in the approach of these two young Americans (Nolan/Spillman) which is refreshing. They present with clarity, forbearance and precision and music which can suffer from too emotional a treatment.”(Brahms Clarinet Sonatas CD)
Stereo Review

“Nolan has a fine tone of moderate size and the ability to sustain his playing for long periods. This latter talent is important, for his performances tend to be rather slow and very relaxed. His fellow players match him well, resulting in performances that are well played and well blended.” (Bruce Nolan Plays Mozart CD)
Fanfare

“The first guests of the evening were the U.S. Coast Guard Band Clarinet Sextet, which was notable for the lovely sound of the Solo Clarinetist, Bruce Nolan.”
Woodwind World

“Bruce Nolan took the stage for a wonderfully mellow performance of Brahms’ late masterpiece, the Clarinet Quintet Op. 115.”
West Coast Clarinet Congress

“Nolan, modestly seated in the background, made a strong contribution with expressive phrasing of the clarinet obbligato part, nowhere better than in the joyous start of the springtime allegro.” (Der Hirt auf dem Felsen - Schubert)
Faculty Recital-CSU Monterey

“Bruce Nolan is a very sensitive player and a particularly musical one. He is also an excellent clarinetist with an impressive command of the instrument’s complete dynamic range, and a wonderful ability to ability to spin out very long phrases with a single breath. It was a pleasure to hear him play, and I very much like his effective performances of both of these works…” (Brahms Clarinet Sonatas CD)
The Clarinet

“The third movement, for Clarinet alone, is entitled, “The Abyss of the Birds”. Bruce Nolan’s interpretation suggested the “jubilant vocalizes” of the birds as Messiaen intended. In various places, Nolan managed to disguise the beginnings of notes. The tone simply emerged out of silence and grew in intensity. The effect was arresting.” (Messiaen; Quartet for the End of Time)
Gannet News Service

“…a style of playing which is eminently mellow, lyrical, sensitive and restrained…marvelously precise …absolutely superb. Much to be admired are Nolan’s beautifully focused, ebony-like chalumeau register and his ability to spin out slow movements with consummate delicacy. There is a beautiful presence and intimacy on this disc. In the final analysis, this album is youthfully, almost naively, refreshing and played with integrity, warmth and a good sense of style. While clarinet buffs my continue to treasure the older, more heart –on-sleeve recording store up on their shelves, these performances should provide comfortable alternative listening for many years to come.” (Brahms Clarinet Sonatas CD)
American Record Guide

“This is the second recording made by Bruce Nolan for Golden Crest Records and it is a gem. It is always enjoyable and refreshing to hear a young and gifted clarinetist making recordings which offer performances that are worthwhile and notable. Mr. Nolan is such a performer. He exhibits a refined and velvety, ubiquitous warm tone and his musical ideas are expressive, sensitive and beautifully thought out. Technically, he brings forth finesse and control. Mr. Nolan’s tone throughout the Mozart Quintet is superb…an outstanding performance. Musically and technically, he is terrific. This recording offers tremendous playing and enlightening interpretations. I would recommend this recording to anyone. Bruce Nolan is a clarinetist worth watching. His playing merits serious consideration.” (Bruce Nolan Plays Mozart CD)
The Clarinet

"First clarinetist Bruce Nolan, who took a bow for his work in Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain”, took center stage and shone again with the opening solo.” (Sibelius, “First Symphony”)
Steven Gilbert-Fresno Bee

“The performance was splendid.” (Ginastera’s “Variaciones Concertantes”)
Allen Hughes - New York Times

“Following the intermission, the first symphony of Jean Sibelius was presented. Principal Clarinet, Bruce Nolan, intoned the opening solo with a honey-throated richness that exploited the full warmth of the chalumeau register”
Larry Warkentin-The Fresno Bee

“There are many exposed solos in Shostokovich’s, “First Symphony”, especially for the winds. The soloists as a whole acquitted themselves well. I thought Bruce Nolan captured the moods of his solos especially well.”
Kathryn Bumpass-Fresno Bee

“The performance of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” was distinguished by the playing of clarinetist Bruce Nolan.”
Allen B. Skei-Fresno Bee

“And Harvey did this one up right, complete with a shirt of iridescent midnight blue. The same-minus the blue shirt-can also be said for Bruce Nolan’s take on the famous opening clarinet solo.” (Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”)
Steven Gilbert-Fresno Bee

“The clarinets brought an especially keen sense of style, and some bright colors, to Mahler’s evocation of Viennese popular music.” (Mahler’s “Third Symphony”)
Kathryn Bumpass-Fresno Bee

“The winds played their flamboyant passages without inhibition, but also without overpowering the string section. Lyrical sections were spacious and elastic and section soloists played their passages effectively.”(Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade”)
Steven Schick-Fresno Bee

“Kodaly’s “Dances of Galanta” which opened the program was the highlight of the evening. An impressive clarinet solo added beauty to the piece.”
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee

“The clarinet solos in the first movement were especially well played.” (Tchaikovsky’s “Sixth Symphony”)
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee

“The second movement was flawless and was complemented by a fine solo performance by clarinetist Bruce Nolan.” (Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5”)
Steven Gilbert-Fresno Bee

“The clarinet solo’s were particularly effective in this work.” (Respighi’s “Fountains of Rome”)
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee

“The clarinet had solos that were played brilliantly.” (Prokofiev’s “Cinderella Suite”)
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee

“Impressive solo work by the clarinet and saxophone helped to keep the work vital.” (Milhaud’s “Creation of the World”)
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee

“The opening theme, which was played beautifully by the clarinets in the somber chalumeau register, seems to be an obsessive thought that the composer both fears and loves.” (Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5”)
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee

“Bruce Nolan, clarinet, provided several outstanding solos during the concert and particularly in the Adagio of this work.” (Rachmaninoff’s “Second Symphony”)
Larry Warkentin-Fresno Bee